Fears knifeman could be taunting police as fifth victim stabbed near patrol
SCOTLAND Yard was last night urging people to remain vigilant after a fifth person was stabbed in north London right under the noses of a police patrol.
A man in his 30s was left in critical condition after being knifed in the back just yards from the scene of a previous incident, prompting fears the attacker could be taunting the police.
It was the fifth knife attack in the Edmonton area since Saturday, in a spree that has left three people critically ill.
A man in his 30s was arrested in connection with the attacks yesterday, but police have warned people to remain on their guard in case the person responsible is still at large.
Another suspect who was arrested on Sunday remained in custody last night after police were given more time to question him, while a third suspect was bailed by police.
The spate of stabbings has led to widespread concern in the community, with schools in lockdown and children warned not to walk home alone.
Residents close to the scene of yesterday’s stabbing said they were scared to go about their day-to-day activities.
Kelvin Ojo, 36, said: “They can’t find this person, it’s just one guy. Now I’m starting thinking about moving from this area, I’m not liking it.”
The latest attack comes a day after Theresa May hosted a knife crime summit to address mounting concern over the number of attacks.
But just hours after the event a man, named locally as Calvin Bungisa, 22, whose parents fled war in Congo to move to Britain, was stabbed to death by a group of attackers in Kentish Town, north London.
The fifth Edmonton victim was stabbed yesterday just after 5am as he was walking with a friend close to the scene of the first incident.
After being knifed in the back he was able to make his way to a police cordon, where officers provided first aid and alerted paramedics.
Ch Supt Helen Millichap, the Met Police borough commander for Enfield and Haringey, said: “The actions of the suspect, the fact the incidents are in a similar area and the descriptions given mean we are only potentially looking for an individual perpetrator.”